Eastern Railroad Discussion > In 1896, who would have thought...?

...that these would be the standard for all RR crossings around the USA.

What do you think the year 2096 will be like? Any changes, upgrades, no more crossings at all?

Let\'s hear it.

Ster 2

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Grade Seperation, If not maglev..... who knows maybe the rails will still exsist but road huging vehicles will not.

Indeed, never thought of it reverse, maybe cars won\'t have roads. Good theory.

Ster 2

Ster2Block wrote:

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> Let\'s hear it.
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Hear, Hear.

Here, Here.

Perhasp the GPS system in your car would make you stop at a crossing if a train was comin\'. Of course that\'s asuming that they aren\'t flying cars. :)

We don\'t need flying cars. People can\'t drive well enough on the ground.

Amen hallbf! Especially those idiot drivers who drive VERY SLOWLY over a nice-and-smooth grade crossing while a train is coming!

What you show is not really the standard of 1896. It\'s more like the standard of 1995 or so....

In 1896, the mast and signal arms would have been cast iron. That\'s all aluminum in your photo.

In 1896 the crossbucks would have been painted cast iron or wood. That\'s modern retroreflective material in your photo.

In 1896 there would have been a mechanical bell. There might still be one today, but your photo shows an electronic bell. Ever hear one? It sounds disgracefully like a door chime.

In 1896 the lights would have been 8" (maybe) incandescant lights. Not sure of the size of the lights in your photo, but today\'s standard (in the more progressive states) is 12" LED\'s.

And then there\'s cantilevers, gates, motion detectors, predictors, and a whole lot more than meets the casual eye.

Right, Xingman?

Uh 100, that\'s what I meant. It wasn\'t around in 1896 like today, and what will be in 2096.

Ster 2

Sure we\'ll have flying cars, by 2015, and the
Cubbies will win the world series that year! Sorry,
been watching too much Back to the Future 2 :)